Penn State University Libraries and the Pennsylvania Center for the Book are pleased to announce that "Big Questions" by Anders Nilsen, published by Drawn & Quarterly, has won the Lynd Ward Prize for Graphic Novel of the Year.

The Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize honors Ward's influence in the development of the graphic novel and celebrates the gift of an extensive collection of Ward's wood engravings, original book illustrations and other graphic art donated to the Libraries by his daughters Robin Ward Savage and Nanda Weedon Ward.

Graphic novel fans and cosplay enthusiasts will not want to miss the first Wildcat Comic Con, on April 13 and 14, at Penn State's Pennsylvania College of Technology (Penn College) in Williamsport, Pa. This event will be a great opportunity to meet writers and artists in person, get books signed and learn more about the world of graphic novels, comic books, manga, animation and videogames.

Penn State University Libraries and the Pennsylvania Center for the Book are pleased to announce that "Duncan the Wonder Dog" by Adam Hines, published by AdHouse Books, has won the inaugural Lynd Ward Prize for Graphic Novel of the Year.

Jerry Zolten, associate professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Altoona, recently was invited to serve on the inaugural award selection jury for the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize. The award is sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries and administered by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book. It honors Ward's influence in the development of the graphic novel. The first award recipient will be announced in the spring.

Did you collect comic books as a kid? If so, which were your favorites?

I did collect as a kid, mostly superhero comics, right after Marvel comics became an industry leader but before the more sophisticated graphic novel trend. In academia there has been a growth of comic book scholarship—really beginning in the mid-1990s. Much of this is because those who grew up with comics in the 60s and 70s started to become Ph.D. students and researchers then.